FT800, as a powerful graphic platform with minimum requirements for a host MCU will meet your requirements with a high probability. Into the final application, you´ll probably use only the “heart of the system” itself – chip FT800 (supporting resistive touch panels) or chip FT801 (supporting capacitive panels) but for the beginning it´s certainly a good idea to start with a suitable module, which only needs to be switched-on and it´s possible to start writing and evaluating a SW application.

Thanks to ready-made modules series VM801 nothing prevents you from trying this platform in your application.. VM801 series modules are available in 2 variants:

VM801B – „basic“ module with the FT801 chip, display and accessory circuits. It is a basic module for evaluation of applications. Its main benefit is that you don´t need to design a PCB but you have a well-tried functional unit with a display and also a precise bezel.

VM801P – „plus“ module with the FT801 and the AtMEGA328P/16MHz microcontroller. A powerful module capable of a standalone operation, also supporting Arduino libraries.

Further, VM801 are available with 4,3“ as well as 5“ displays (480×272 px), both with capacitive touch panel. Modules VM801 are suitable for development, but also for a small-series production, when it´s simpler and cheaper to use such a module than to develop all the hardware portion. Detailed description can be found in the VM801B and VM801P datasheets.

Its quiet fun to work with RFID based projects! In the previous article, we saw how to interface RFID with Arduino. Interfacing is the first step to create any useful project. So why don’t we create an RFID based Access Control System or an RFID based Door Lock using Arduino? The system I have designed here is a simple version of the project. This project can be enhanced with a lot of features (which I will be doing in the next version of this project – Advanced RFID based Door Lock). So lets begin!

In this tutorial we will show how to build WiFi controlled thermostat with ESP8266, Arduino and touch screen display. Thermostat will also show other info, like weather forecast and temperature outside. Total cost for thermostat is about 40EUR, which is price for basic commercial thermostat in shop.

Supplied in an 8-lead MSOP, the LT6023 dual micropower op amp from Linear Technology provides an input offset voltage of 30 µV maximum and settles to 0.01% in 60 µs, making it useful for multiplexed data-acquisition systems and precision signal processing. Proprietary slew-enhancement circuitry results in a fast, clean output step response with low power consumption.

Specially designed input circuitry maintains high impedance, which minimizes current spikes associated with fast steps for input steps up to 5 V. Slew rate is 1 V/µs, while maximum supply current is 20 µA/amplifier. The LT6023 also includes a shutdown mode that reduces supply current to less than 3 µA when the part is not active. An enable time of 480 µs and a fast slew rate combine to provide power-efficient operation in duty-cycled applications.

I have setup a new section for ESP8266 Arduino as IGRR and myself have successfully ported the Arduino IDE over to the ESP8266 and have it all working very nicely now. ESP8266 Arduino and the code is on github, we have also set up a compilation server and executables will also be available for download. So go to town and start writing Arduino code the ESP8266! Get your ideas off the ground in no time! FAST!

Spurred on by the completion of my two previous projects, the Compact Camera and Portable Games Console, I wanted to find a new challenge. The natural progression was an outdoor remote system…

I wanted to build a Raspberry Pi weather station that was able to sustain itself off grid and send me the results through a wireless connection, from anywhere! This project really has had its challenges, but luckily powering the Raspberry Pi is one of the main challenges that has been made easy by using the PiJuice as a power supply with it’s added solar support.

Highly variable tables and furniture Variolab+ are suitable for education and also for production/ service. Thanks to a wide range of various modules it´s possible to arrange a configuration that perfectly suits your needs.

It´s possible to work in various conditions. Excessively said – even on a classic office table. However, for a really effective work it´s certainly better to use a table, where everything is there, where you want, it has a correct height, offers a lot of space for the work itself, it´s safe and it also might be ESD safe…

Variolab+ laboratory tables produced by a Czech company Diametral meet the highest criteria of ergonomics and safety. A few-thousand (Euro) investment for a common configuration of such table is probably too much for a beginning designer, but for fully engaged production-, service- and testing workplaces as well as school classrooms this equipment quickly “refunds”. For example thanks to these reasons:

possibility of a central remote control (for example by a teacher) or also to adjust max. voltage limit and similar

high safety, certified solution

enables to compose a table exactly according to your needs with maximal usage of available space

stable construction from robust steel components treated by a powder baked coating (long-term stable construction, stronger than similar one from aluminium)

modular design enables to choose from a large amount of electric and electro-mechanical modules, which can be installed in a rear part of a work-desk as well as above the work-desk

open system enabling anytime to add other modules, superstructure,..

up to 150 kg work-desk load capacity thanks to a robust frame beneath the desk

superstructure with devices (modules) can be placed on a work-desk or above the work-desk (to reach a max. space)

possibility to equip also with pneumatic elements (air distribution,…)

Wide range has a standard height of 200mm and width in multiplies of 60mm. Basic work-desk can be equipped with boxes, cabinets, shelves, drawers, tiltable oscilloscope holder, tools holder,…. Among modules, which can be integrated in a table also belong a soldering station, oscilloscope, RLC decades, as well as various AC and DC power supplies, regulation transformers, circuit breakers,… Moreover, tables can be stacked into various sets and we´re also able to supply you with laboratory cabinets, chairs,….

For illustration we also bring you some photos of typical worktables, which we supplied to our customers. Guide price of such a table is approximately 4000 to 4500 Eur. Resulting price is naturally strongly dependent on types and amount of modules used in a given table.

Computer chips, solar cells and other electronic devices have traditionally been based on silicon, the most famous of the semiconductors, that special class of materials whose unique electronic properties can be manipulated to turn electricity on and off the way faucets control the flow of water.

There are other semiconductors. Gallium arsenide is one such material and it has certain technical advantages over silicon – electrons race through its crystalline structure faster than they can move through silicon.

But silicon has a crushing commercial advantage. It is roughly a thousand times cheaper to make. As a result, gallium arsenide-based devices are only used in niche applications where their special capabilities justify their higher cost.

Cellphones, for instance, typically rely on speedy gallium arsenide chips to process the high-frequency radio signals that arrive faster than silicon can handle.

Quin Etnyre has been into all things Arduino since he was a kid. He already has 28 Instructables published, founded his own company called Qtechknow in 2012 which sells ArduSensors and a line of fun and educational kits and oh, he is still just 14 years old.

His latest Arduino-based design is the Qduino Mini which is the first tiny Arduino compatible board to incorporate a battery charger and fuel gauge to let you know when the battery needs recharging.

The Qduino Mini is 1 inch by 1.5 inches and weighs just 5 grams which makes it ideal for use on airborne projects such as quadcopters, drones or high altitude balloons.